The ACCA qualification is one of the most respected accountancy certifications globally, and total costs in the UK typically range from £3,313 to £8,373 depending on your study approach.
This guide breaks down every fee, from registration and exams to study materials and membership, with practical tips to reduce your total cost and avoid expensive mistakes like late exam entry.
Quick summary
- Total ACCA costs in the UK range from approximately £3,313 to £8,373, depending on your study approach.
- This includes registration (£89), three years of student subscriptions (£420), 13 exams (approximately £2,395-£2,455), the Ethics module (£83), and membership (£326).
- Study materials typically add £0-£5,000, from free ACCA resources up to a genuine paid provider used throughout. Choosing a Content Partner (BPP or Kaplan) across every paper runs higher than this typical range.
- Applied Skills exams are a flat £173 each. Strategic Professional has two tiers: £295 for Strategic Business Leader, £229 for every other paper.
ACCA exam fees summary
If you’re looking for a quick breakdown of the total ACCA fees and costs, here’s how much you should expect to pay:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Registration fee | £89 |
| Subscription fee (3 years @ £140/year) | £420 |
| Exam fees (13 exams, standard entry) | £2,395-£2,455 |
| Ethics and Professional Skills Module | £83 |
| Study materials and coaching | £0-£5,000 |
| Membership fee | £326 |
| Total (approximate, excluding study materials) | £3,313-£3,373 |
| Total (approximate, including study materials) | £3,313-£8,373 |
Let’s take a look at each of these costs in more detail so you know exactly what you’ll need to pay and when.
ACCA fees vary by location and are subject to change: Verify current ACCA fees at accaglobal.com before booking.
ACCA registration & subscription fees: £509
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Registration fee | £89 |
| Subscription fee | £420 (3 x £140) |
| Total | £509 |
ACCA registration fee: £89
All ACCA students begin with a one-time registration fee of £89.
ACCA subscription fee: £420 (£140/year)
To maintain an active student status, you’ll pay an annual subscription fee of £140.
Most people take around 3-4 years to complete ACCA if studying part-time while employed, or 2-3 years if studying full-time. For this guide, we’ve assumed an average of 3 years. That totals £420 in subscription fees.
- The subscription fee only applies in your first year if you can sit at least three exam sessions in that calendar year.
- For example, if you registered in August, you’d only be able to sit at the September and December sessions, so you wouldn’t pay a subscription for that year. For subsequent years, it’s billed each January.
ACCA exam fees (13 exams): £2,185-£2,685
| Level | Number of exams | Fee structure | Total (standard entry) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Knowledge | 3 | £125-£145 per exam (indicative, set by exam centre) | £375-£435 |
| Applied Skills | 6 | £173 flat, per exam | £1,038 |
| Strategic Professional | 4 | SBL £295, SBR and each Option £229 | £982 |
| Total | 13 | £2,395-£2,455 |
There are 13 ACCA exams in total, spread over three levels:
- Applied Knowledge (3 exams)
- Applied Skills (6 exams)
- Strategic Professional (4 exams)
Find out how to book and manage exams in our ACCA admin guide.
Each level has its own pricing structure; here’s a closer look at each one.
1. Applied Knowledge: total cost approx. £375-£435
| Exam | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| 1. Business & Technology (BT) | £125-£145 |
| 2. Management Accounting (MA) | £125-£145 |
| 3. Financial Accounting (FA) | £125-£145 |
| Total (3 exams) | £375-£435 |
- Approximate cost per exam: £125-£145
- Number of exams: 3
- Scheduling: On-demand (you can take them at any time)
- How to book: Directly with an approved exam centre
Because each exam centre sets its own pricing, Applied Knowledge exam costs vary depending on location and provider. ACCA doesn’t publish a single fee for these exams, since each centre (or country, for the limited remote on-demand option) sets its own price, so treat the figures above as indicative only.
2. Applied Skills: £1,038 (£173 flat, per exam)
| Exam | Cost (September 2026 standard entry) |
|---|---|
| Corporate and Business Law (LW) | £173 |
| Performance Management (PM) | £173 |
| Taxation (TX) | £173 |
| Financial Reporting (FR) | £173 |
| Audit and Assurance (AA) | £173 |
| Financial Management (FM) | £173 |
| Total (6 exams) | £1,038 |
- Cost per exam: £173 flat, the same for every paper at standard entry
- Number of exams: 6
- Scheduling: session-based during specific exam windows (March, June, September and December)
- How to book: through your myACCA account
If you have prior qualifications, you may be eligible for exemptions covering up to 9 ACCA exams, including at Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills level.
3. Strategic Professional: £982
| Part | Exam | Cost (standard entry) |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials (both required) | Strategic Business Leader (SBL) | £295 |
| Strategic Business Reporting (SBR) | £229 | |
| Options (choose two) | Advanced Financial Management (AFM) | £229 |
| Advanced Performance Management (APM) | £229 | |
| Advanced Taxation (ATX) | £229 | |
| Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA) | £229 | |
| Total (4 exams: SBL + SBR + 2 options) | £982 |
- Cost per exam: £295 for SBL, £229 for SBR and every Option
- Number of exams: 4 (2 compulsory + 2 options)
- Scheduling: session-based during specific exam windows (March, June, September and December)
- How to book: through your myACCA account
Strategic Business Leader costs more than every other Strategic Professional exam. SBR and all four Options are priced the same as each other at £229.
ACCA late entry fees
| Level | Standard fee | Late entry fee | Extra cost per exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Skills | £155-£175 | £439 | £264-£284 |
| Strategic Professional | £220-£300 | £475 | £175-£255 |
If you book an exam after the standard entry deadline, you’ll pay a significantly higher late entry fee. This applies to Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams (Applied Knowledge exams are on-demand, so late entry doesn’t apply).
ACCA sets these higher fees to encourage early planning and to cover the additional administration of processing last-minute bookings.
- Late entry for all six Applied Skills exams would cost £2,634, compared with £930-£1,050 at standard entry.
- Late entry for all four Strategic Professional exams would cost £1,900, compared with £880-£1,200 at standard entry.
Booking within the standard entry window not only saves you money but also gives you more flexibility when choosing exam centres and session times.
As with standard entry fees, late entry fees can vary between location and session, so it’s always worth confirming current ACCA fees and charges for your region before booking.
ACCA 2027 changes
ACCA will introduce updates to its qualification structure in 2027. These changes include:
- Revisions to exam levels.
- New employability modules.
- Updated paper combinations.
- 11 exams instead of 13.
- Refreshed technical content in areas such as sustainability, data, and digital literacy.
Anyone beginning ACCA exams before the changes are introduced will follow a transition plan with exam passes mapped to the new framework. This means that if you’re already part way through ACCA, there won’t be a cost increase to complete it by transitioning to the new format.
For full details about the planned changes, visit the transition timeline to the future ACCA qualification.
ACCA exemption fees
| Level | Exemption cost |
|---|---|
| Applied Knowledge | £98 per exam |
| Applied Skills | £123 per exam |
| Strategic Professional | Not available |
Exemptions allow you to skip certain ACCA exams if you’ve already covered equivalent content in prior qualifications, such as:
- A relevant university degree in accounting, business, or finance.
- A professional qualification such as AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians), ATT (Association of Taxation Technicians), or ACA (Associate Chartered Accountant).
- A certificate or diploma from a recognised institution.
You can have a maximum of nine exemptions, and you’ll need to pay a separate fee for each exemption granted. For any exemptions, you don’t need to pay the standard ACCA exam fee, but you do need to pay the exemption fee.
Exemptions are awarded at the Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills levels. Strategic Professional exams do not offer exemptions.
Check your eligibility for exemptions using the ACCA Exemptions Calculator
Ethics & Professional Skills Module (EPSM): £83
- Cost for EPSM: £83
- How to book: Through your myACCA account
- Format: 10 self-paced online learning units, plus online final assessment
- When to take: ACCA recommends completing the EPSM after the Applied Knowledge exams, but before attempting the Strategic Professional exams.
The Ethics & Professional Skills Module (EPSM) is a mandatory online course for all ACCA candidates. It’s designed to help future accountants develop the ethical judgment, professional behaviour, and workplace skills needed in real-world roles.
Study materials & coaching
| Provider | Status | Typical per-paper cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCA Study Hub | Official, free | Free | Practice questions, technical articles, exam guidance, and past exam papers. A useful foundation alongside any paid provider. |
| ACOWtancy | Platinum | Free tier, or £199-249 | Genuinely free textbooks, notes, and past papers on the free tier, plus paid Premium and Ultra tiers for video tuition and personalised feedback. |
| BPP | Platinum, Content Partner | £460-775 depending on level and format | On-demand from £460 per paper; live online up to £775 at Strategic Professional, where it’s offered as live online only. |
| Kaplan | Platinum, Content Partner | £449-979 on-demand, up to £1,959 live online | On-demand pricing competitive at lower levels; live online pricing runs significantly higher, especially at Strategic Professional. |
| The ExP Group | Platinum | £325-425 (£260-340 with current promo) | A single, all-inclusive package per paper, with no tiers to navigate. |
| First Intuition | Platinum | £370-570 on-demand | A flat on-demand package per level; live online is unbundled into separate tuition, revision, and mock purchases that cost more in total. |
| Learnsignal | Gold | £275-549 one-off, or £400-600/year subscription | One-off per-paper pricing or an annual subscription covering every paper. |
| LSBF | Gold (UK) | £350-795 depending on level and package | Pricing split between Revision-only and full Tuition-plus-Revision packages. |
| StaySharp (powered by BPP) | Uses BPP’s Platinum-accredited content | £400/year prepaid, all papers included | BPP’s own content at a fraction of BPP’s direct price, minus printed materials and personal tutor feedback. |
| VIVA Financial Tuition | Not ACCA-accredited (CIMA-accredited) | From £149, or £399-599 for annual/lifetime bundles | Individual courses or annual/lifetime bundle access, fully online. |
A wide range of study materials, courses, and tuition options is available for ACCA students. Prices vary significantly by provider, level of support, and study format, from entirely free to several hundred pounds per paper, so most candidates can find an approach that fits their budget.
For a full breakdown of what each provider includes, their accreditation status, and which study style suits which candidate, see our best ACCA online courses guide.
A wide range of study materials, courses, and tuition options is available for ACCA students. Prices vary significantly by provider, level of support, and study format, from entirely free to several hundred pounds per paper, so most candidates can find an approach that fits their budget.
For a full breakdown of what each provider includes, their accreditation status, and which study style suits which candidate, see our best ACCA online courses guide.
Admission to membership & subscription fees: £326
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Admission to Membership Fee | £326 (one-off fee) |
| Annual Membership Subscription Fee | £326 (annual fee) |
Once you’ve passed all ACCA exams, completed the Ethics & Professional Skills Module, and met the Practical Experience Requirements (PER), you can apply to become a full ACCA member.
There is a one-off fee to become a member. You will then need to pay an annual subscription fee to keep your membership active.
1. Admission to Membership fee (one-off): £326
- Paid once, when you first qualify and join ACCA as a member.
- Covers the formal process of admitting you to membership.
2. Annual membership subscription: £326 per year
- Paid every year to keep your ACCA membership active.
- Due each January.
Transitioning from student subscription to full member subscription
- Once you become a member, you stop paying the student subscription fee (£140/year).
- You will not be charged both student and member subscriptions in the same year.
- If your student subscription is already paid in the year you qualify, you’ll pay the one-off Admission to Membership fee (£326), but your first £326 annual membership fee won’t be due until the following January.
Extra costs to be aware of
In addition to the core ACCA fees already outlined, there are several other expenses some candidates may encounter during their qualification journey.
- Resit fees: If you need to retake an exam, you must pay the full ACCA exam fee again for each attempt.
- Exam rescheduling fees: Changing your booking after the deadline can incur administrative charges.
- Travel and accommodation: If your nearest exam centre is far away, or if centre availability is limited at centres close to you, then you may need to travel further afield.
- CPD costs after qualification: Once you become a member, completing Continuing Professional Development may involve training expenses (though not always).
Factors that affect your total cost
The costs we’ve outlined in this guide are the standard expenses most people will need to pay. However, there are a few variables that may change the total amount you will need to spend on the ACCA qualification.
- Number of exemptions: Fewer exams will reduce your exam fees, but will add exemption fees. Exemption fees and exam fees are fairly similar, but this is something that can adjust your total by several hundred pounds in some cases.
- Late vs standard exam entry: Late entry significantly increases exam fees. That’s why it’s always recommended to book using standard entry if possible for the best ACCA exam prices.
- Your study method: Self-study is cheaper. Tuition and classroom learning, as well as more comprehensive study materials, can add substantial cost. The flip side is that potentially you need fewer resits and become qualified more quickly.
- Number of resits: Each resit costs the same as the original fee charged for that exam. So if you need to resit a lot of exams, the costs can quickly add up. It’s common for ACCA candidates to require some resits, but a good ACCA study strategy should mean you schedule exams at a point when you’re confident you’ll pass.
- Choice of exam centre: On-demand centre-based pricing for Applied Knowledge exams can vary by provider. They’re usually fairly closely priced, but it’s something to be aware of as it can impact the total amount you pay, particularly if you need to resit any of these exams.
8 tips for reducing ACCA costs
Reducing the total cost of the ACCA qualification is often possible with the right planning and smart decision-making. Here are 8 practical tips to help you manage expenses more effectively:
1. Register for exams early
Standard entry ACCA fees are significantly cheaper than late entry. Planning around the ACCA exam entry deadlines avoids the price increase associated with late booking.
2. Create a realistic study plan
Rushing exams or leaving too little preparation time can lead to resits, and each resit requires paying the exam fee again. A steady, structured plan that focuses on how to study effectively can reduce your risk of costly repeat attempts.
3. Use high-quality but affordable study materials
There is a wide range of study options at different price points. You don’t need the most expensive course for every exam, and many candidates pass using a combination of textbooks, revision kits, and selective video courses. The trick is to find a good quality study provision that works best for your individual learning style.
4. Take advantage of free ACCA resources
ACCA provides technical articles, past exam questions, specimen exams, and examiner reports for free. These can significantly reduce how much you need to spend on supplementary materials.
5. Compare exam centre prices for Applied Knowledge exams
Since these exams are booked directly with centres, prices vary. Shopping around local centres can help you find the best rate on ACCA exam prices.
6. Budget ahead for Strategic Professional exams
At £229-£295 per exam, these are the most expensive individual ACCA exams. Planning early helps you avoid late entry fees and prepare for the higher cost.
7. Make use of employer support
Some employers contribute to ACCA fees or provide study support. It’s always worth checking whether your workplace offers sponsorship or reimbursement.
8. Check if you’re eligible for a reduced membership subscription
Once you become a member, check whether you qualify for ACCA’s subscription assistance or reduced-fee programme (for example, if you earn under £16,500 or are on extended leave). If you do qualify, this can lower your annual ACCA membership cost.
ACCA fees FAQs
Total ACCA costs in the UK range from approximately £3,300 to £8,400, depending on your study approach. This covers registration, three years of subscriptions, all 13 exams, the Ethics module and membership. Study materials typically add £0-£5,000 on top, from free ACCA resources to a genuine paid provider used throughout, though a Content Partner across every paper runs higher.
Applied Knowledge exams cost approximately £125-£145 each, set by your exam centre. Applied Skills exams are a flat £173 each at standard entry. Strategic Professional exams cost £295 for Strategic Business Leader and £229 for Strategic Business Reporting and each Option paper.
Late entry costs significantly more than standard entry. Applied Skills late entry is £439, versus £173 standard. Strategic Professional late entry is £475 across all papers, versus £229-£295 standard. Booking within the standard window is always the cheaper choice.
Exemptions cost £98 per exam at Applied Knowledge level and £123 per exam at Applied Skills level. You can claim a maximum of nine exemptions. Strategic Professional exams don’t offer exemptions, so you must sit these regardless of prior qualifications.
The annual student subscription fee is £140, billed each January after your first year. Once you qualify as a member, this is replaced by an annual membership subscription of £326, also due each January.
Many employers contribute to ACCA fees, study materials or exam costs, particularly for candidates working in finance or accounting roles. It’s worth checking your workplace’s professional development policy or asking your manager directly, since support varies significantly between employers.
Hopefully, you’ve found this guide useful in understanding how much the ACCA qualification costs. Here are some related articles you might also find useful:
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